Akuda Fanizani
Intro
Fanizani was born in the then Northern Rhodesia(now Zambia) in 1932; he moved to Guruve in Mashonaland West Province, Zimbabwe in 1966 where he met Tom Blomefield the founder of Tengenenge Art Community. Tengenenge was founded by Tom in 1966 after the economic sanctions on Rhodesia in order to provide a source of income for Tom and his workers. It is at Tenengenge that Akuda was introduced to stone sculpturing and from where his career started, firstly by salvaging for stone for the group of Tenengenge artists as he was reluctant to sculpture stone in fear of hurting himself seriously. At the end of his engagement with the art centre Tom Blomefield encouraged Fanzani to get involved with the art and gave him a starter kit of tools for sculpting; which he immediately put to use. During his early career he also had an encouraging meeting with the then director of the National Gallery, Frank McEwan who further encouraged him to carry on with the trade. Akuda Fanizani’s works were exhibited over the years in South Africa, Malawi and South America. These showings brought him success and national recognition as one of Zimbabwe’s best sculptors. His creations are amongst the best and most well known Zimbabwean iconic sculptures. Some of his most notable sculptors: The Snake Man I Know You Have Stolen My Eggs The Whistler Figures Flat Face Father and Son Quite Child Happy Girl Akuda died on the 5th February 2011, in Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe.